LOS ANGELES — Nneka Ogwumike scored 20 points and passed Candace Parker for second place on the franchise’s all-time scoring list, but it wasn’t enough as the Sparks squandered a fourth-quarter lead in a 76-69 loss to the New York Liberty on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Ogwumike now has 5,691 points as a Spark, trailing only Lisa Leslie (6,263) after surpassing Parker’s 5,684. Ogwumike also played in her 344th game, tying DeLisha Milton-Jones for the second-most games played behind Leslie’s 363.
“That’s definitely an honor,” Ogwumike said before the game. “For me, I just like being in the moment. That’s what I try to focus on. I’m just very grateful to be in the league at this time, 12 years in, healthy, being able to play with my teammates and especially those who are making names for themselves in their career (motioning at Sparks starting point guard Jordin Canada). And to do it all in a Sparks jersey is certainly an honor, and to be in the conversation with people like Lisa (Leslie) and Candace (Parker). That’s not anything that I really anticipated coming to this team (in 2012) but I’m very, very grateful to say that I’m still here, hopefully contributing to the history of this organization.”
Jordin Canada added 13 points and six assists, and Layshia Clarendon scored 11 points for the Sparks (9-17).
Courtney Vandersloot scored 20 of her season-high 23 points in the second half and added seven rebounds and six assists to pace the Liberty (20-6), who closed on a 10-2 run to beat the Sparks for the second time in three days. Breanna Stewart added 16 points, 12 rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots, while Sabrina Ionescu scored 11 points and Jonquel Jones had nine points and eight rebounds.
New York trailed 54-50 entering the fourth quarter before holding the Sparks to 15 points in the final 10 minutes.
Canada’s floating jump shot pulled the Sparks within 61-60 with 4:48 left, before a Clarendon 3-pointer tied…
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